Two of the largest cyclones in recorded history have hit the Pacific – Cyclone Pam affecting 70 per cent of the population in Vanuatu costing 64 per cent of their GDP, and Cyclone Winston affecting 62 per cent of the population in Fiji, costing an estimated 20 per cent of their GDP.

The scale of impact thwarts economic growth and development.

But preparation and preparedness and prevention pay dividends.

Early warning systems in both cases alerted communities to the approaching cyclones and as a result, the human from these events was remarkably low.

In 2015-16, we invested almost three per cent of our overseas development assistance managing disaster risk and building disaster resilience.

We have committed AUD 6.1 million over three years to UNISDR, and we are pleased that this has included funding for Pacific participation in the Platform.

We are also allocating AUD 12.3 million over three years to the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.

Working collaboratively with these partners is important, but national leadership is crucial.

Accordingly, Australia will continue to assist where we can to add value to the national actions of our development partners, but we cannot replace their own efforts.